The Drowning Tree: A Novel (Ballantine Reader's Circle)

I am quite a fan of Carol Goodman - she writes intelligent mysteries with more than an air of literature in the subject matter, which always makes her books interesting for those also obsessed by literature. The whole world of stained glass conservation is researched well for this novel and I really enjoyed dipping into an 'arty-farty' world I know nothing about.However, the plot is a little weak and I kind of guessed the ending which really disappointed me - but it won't put me off buying her next book!

So far it is enjoyable. I haven't quite finished it yet..

I finished this in two days, and at once point, I actually said, "Don't get in that boat with him!" Anytime I can't decide on the killer, I consider it a good read, and this one is. Yes, the characters' speech is a little unnatural when discussing art and mythology, but I didn't mind. I did mind that the sexy cop was able to hold his own in these conversations as well. That was a stretch.Still, this book kept me guessing from beginning to end--and I'll never look at a tree in the same way again.The author knows how to get the most out of a setting, and this book is full of them.I recommend it.

Had I read this murder mystery before I read her new offering River Road I would not be comparing the two novels. Drowning Tree is well developed and the art history adds a second level of interest. The characters are8 believable, the plot compelling, and as in River Road the setting in the Hudson River Valley is exceptionally true and lovely to visit throughout the novel. This author has in both novels a central female character, the investigating officer, several suspects, each of whom could have motive. I believe this earlier novel keeps the reader guessing "who done it" further along in the narative. In River Road it was clear at 40% ( I use a Kindle) who the murderer was and her motive. Drowning Tree has more suspense and kept me guessing longer into the read. This genre is only for light reading entertainment.

This novel contains all the elements that reverberate through Goodman's work: single mother and teenage daughter, historical mystery, academic institution with a potentially dark secret, and mysterious works of art. Carol Goodman can write a cracking good mystery, and she's done it again here. Reading Goodman means that I can be sure I'm getting a good page-turner, that I'll be taken in with suspense, and that I'll be rushing to get to the end to find the solution to the mystery.Those praises accounted for, I must also mention that this is my third Goodman novel, and the formula is getting a bit worn. The plots are always well-constructed, but the cast of characters and the love story are always so very similar. The main character is always a single mother, an artist or academic interested in the arts. I'll keep reading Goodman's books, but it's starting to seem like an exercise in diminishing returns. I first read The Lake of Dead Languages, and thought it was brilliant. I'm not sure that The Drowning Tree (or Arcadia Falls, which I've also read) are lesser books, it's just that they're starting to seem repetitive.This particular story relied on the descriptions of some rather complicated architecture, including a sunken garden. I sometimes found it quite difficult to visualize these features, and they are integral to the plot. Goodman has the ability to visualize complicated and dramatic landscapes, but they're not always easy for the reader to recreate.All of this said, I will continue to read Goodman's books, but I'm hoping that some of her other works will offer some new elements.